Fire at Hi-Lo St Augustine

Operations at the St Augustine branch of Hi-Lo Food Stores were temporarily shut down yesterday afternoon as a result of a small fire inside the building.

Police reported at about 3.30 p.m. yesterday, workers and shoppers at the Hi-Lo Food Store noticed smoke coming from a back room in the building. The fire alarm was sounded and everyone at the facility was evacuated. Workers were asked to wait along the eastern side of the building as fire officials from the Tunapuna Fire Station, and police officers from the Tunapuna Police Station, responded to the scene.

The fire was quickly contained and operations at the supermarket resumed by 6 p.m.

Workers, who did not wish to be identified, explained that the fire was “small” and there appeared to be minimal damage to the building.

“Honestly it just seemed as though the fire was contained to the back room. Inside the building we just have smoke, so the place was smelling a bit and they closed down the place for a short bit because of it. But nobody was hurt, and they told us they expect to open back up this evening self,” explained a worker.